Tethered ball

ABSTRACT

A tethered ball which includes a conventional ball enclosed in a rubber membrane which has affixed to it an elastic line. Diametrically opposite the point of attachment of the elastic line, the rubber membrane has an opening therein which is dimensioned to permit the insertion and removal of the ball, and also to prevent the inadvertent passage of the ball from the membrane. The elastic line may be anchored to a hard rubber block provided with a covered well for containing the tethered ball assembly when not in use.

United States Patent Fey et al. 5] Nov. 11, 1975 [5 TETHERED BALL 2.772.882 12/1956 Anson 273/58 c x Y 3.351.343 11/1967 Papp 273/58 c x [75] Imemors' North Babllon, 3.804409 4/1974 Schachner 273/58 c x N.Y Robert J. Fey, Roseburg, Oreg' Primary E.\z1miner-George J. Marlo [73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard E. Nanfeldt New York, NY. a part interest [22 Filed: Feb. 6, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A tethered ball which includes a conventional ball en- [21] Appl' 547747 closed in a rubber membrane which has affixed to it an elastic line. Diametrically opposite the point of at [52] US. Cl 273/58 C; 273/58 BA taehment 0f the elastic line. the rubber membrane as [51 int. cl. A63B 43/02 an Opening therein whieh is dimensioned to Permit the [58] Field of Search, 273/58 C, 29 A, 95 A, 95 AA insertion and removal of the ball, and also to prevent 273/200 R, 58 R, 61 R the inadvertent passage of the ball from the mem brane. The elastic line may be anchored to a hard rub-- [56] Refe e Cit d ber block provided with a covered well for containing UNITED STATES PATENTS the tethered ball assembly when not in use.

660,787 10/1900 Bissell 273/58 c 3 C a 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 3,918,712

TETHERED BALL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ball when the original one has lost its ability to bounce.

Since the ability to bounce a tennis ball is of great importance this is a significant shortcoming of the prior art apparatus.

Accordingly it is a primary object of the invention to provide apparatus which will tether a tennis ball and which permits the easy replacement of the tennis ball with a conventional ball not requiring special tools and without great difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that these and other objects of the invention may be satisfied by apparatus which includes a ball and a rubber membrance disposed thereabout. An elastic line is fixed to the rubber membrane and to an anchor.

The membrane normally will be provided with an arcuate slot which is dimensioned and configured for selective passage of the ball in and out of the membrance without damage to the membrane and which will also prevent inadvertent passage of the ball through the slot.

The anchor ordinarily will comprise a hard rubber base to which the elastic line is fixed at the other end most remote from the rubber membrane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the ball disposed within the base;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the connector which joins individual sections of the elastic line as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a broken away view to an enlarged scale of the rubber membrane and ball shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a broken away view shown in greater detail the fixing of the end of the elastic line to the base.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is shown a tennis ball 10 which is surrounded by a rubber membrane l2 and which has an arcuate opening 14. The arcuate opening is dimensioned and configured for allowing selective passage of the ball 10 in and out of the membrane 12. The arcuate opening 14 will not be so large as to allow inadvertent passage of the ball 10 out through the membrane 12. An elastic line 14 is fixed by means of an integral connector 16 through the rubber membrane 12. At one end of the opposite end is secured by means ofa snap conector 18 to an eye bolt 20 which is mounted in a housing 22 intermediate at the ends of the line 14 is a swivel 24 which avoids twisting of line 14.

Ordinarily the line 14 and the ball 10 may be disposed within a recess 30 within a base 22 which is closed when not in use by a cover 32. The cover 32 carries an eye bolt 34 having a line 36 for securing the cover to the base (not shown to avoid loss thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A tethered ball assembly which comprises: a ball, rubber membrane surrounding said ball, an elastic line secured to said rubber membrane, an anchor secured to the other end of said elastic line, an arcuate slot disposed in said rubber membrane, said arcuate slot being located diametrically opposite the point of attachment of said line to said membrane and dimensioned and configured for selective passage of said ball in and out of said rubber membrane and also to prevent inadvertent passage of said ball out of said rubber membrane.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said anchor is provided with a well for holding said ball and said elastic line.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said anchor is manufactured of a hard rubber material. 

1. A tethered ball assembly which comprises: a ball, rubber membrane surrounding said ball, an elastic line secured to said rubber membrane, an anchor secured to the other end of said elastic line, an arcuate slot disposed in said rubber membrane, said arcuate slot being located diametrically opposite the point of attachment of said line to said membrane and dimensioned and configured for selective passage of said ball in and out of said rubber membrane and also to prevent inadvertent passage of said ball out of said rubber membrane.
 2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said anchor is provided with a well for holding said ball and said elastic line.
 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said anchor is manufactured of a hard rubber material. 